In sum, we found that anonymising applications for scientific equipment can enhance early-career researchers' chances of success. Since no prior gender gap existed in our data, anonymisation wouldn't be expected to impact gendered outcomes. Our results confirm this.

By enhancing success rates for early career researchers, anonymisation may create a positive ripple effect in the career pipeline, diversifying the research pool, and supporting the broader issue - retaining and advancing researchers facing barriers in STEM research.